Neonatal fluid tubing heater

ABSTRACT

A heating system for warming nutritional liquid fed to a neonate or preterm infant may comprise a control module and a heater. The heating system is portable so that the heating system is not connected to a syringe pump or other device used to feed the neonate. The heater of the heating system is mounted to the tube that is used to feed the neonate. The heater is positioned along the tube in close proximity to the neonate so that a temperature drop of the nutritional liquid after the nutritional liquid exits the heater and reaches the neonate is negligible. The heater raises the temperature of the nutritional liquid to a target desired temperature (e.g., body temperature of the mother and neonate or to a temperature above the temperature of the mother and neonate) so that the neonate may consume warm nutritional fluid. Once the nutritional liquid reaches the neonate, the nutritional liquid is at about the body temperature of the mother or neonate or at least above room temperature.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The embodiments disclosed herein relate to a heater for warmingnutritional liquid fed to a pre-term infant.

Nutritional delivery to a preterm infant or enteral feeding is animportant part of caring for the preterm infant in neonate-natalintensive care units. Typically, the preterm infant is fed with afeeding tube that delivers breast milk or neonatal formula directly intothe stomach of the preterm infant. The feeding tube is generallyintroduced either through the nose (i.e., nasally) or through the mouth(i.e., gastrically). Previously, the breast milk or neonatal formula wasfed to the neonate while the breast milk or neonate formula was at roomtemperature (i.e., below body temperature). However, studies have shownthat preterm infants respond favorably when the nutritional liquid(e.g., breast milk or neonatal formula) coincides with the bodytemperature of a person (i.e., 98.6° F.). When the nutritional liquid isprovided to the preterm infant at a temperature closer to the bodytemperature of a person, the preterm infant was found to digest more ofthe nutritional liquid. Moreover, other studies have found that thelower the body temperature of the preterm infant, the higher thelikelihood of mortality of the preterm infant. As such, it is importantto preserve the preterm infant's energy so that the preterm infant doesnot need to divert energy away from heating and growth to generate heat.If the nutritional liquid is fed to the preterm infant at roomtemperature, the preterm infant must divert energy that could be usedfor healing and growth to heat him or herself due to digestion of thecold nutritional liquid. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to feedpreterm infants .with nutritional liquid raised to the body temperatureof a person to reduce the amount of energy diverted away from healingand growth to digestion and heat generation.

In response, prior art devices have been introduced for warmingnutritional liquid (e.g., breast milk or neonate formula) provided topre-term infants. Typically, the nutritional liquid is warmed in aneonate feeding syringe or warm nutritional liquid is poured into thesyringe and then fed to the neonate. Unfortunately, even if thenutritional liquid is pre-warmed to body temperature, the temperature ofthe nutritional liquid in the feeding syringe decreases to roomtemperature during feeding due to the long feeding time. The averagefeeding time is about 30 minutes to 4 hours. Heat is lost through theneonate feeding syringe. Also, heat is lost through a tube routed to thestomach of the neonate. In particular, as the nutritional liquid flowsfrom the feeding syringe to the neonate through the tube, significantheat loss is experienced through the tubing since the nutritional liquidtravels through the tubing at a relatively slow rate. Accordingly, evenif the nutritional liquid in the neonate feeding syringe is raised tothe body temperature of the mother, such warming is rendered ineffectivesince there is a significant temperature drop as the nutritional liquidflows through the tube.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved method anddevice for heating nutritional liquid fed to the pre-term infant.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The embodiments discussed herein address the needs discussed above,discussed below and those that are known in the art.

A heating system that includes a heater and a control module isdisclosed herein. The control module controls operation of the heater.The heater is used to warm the nutritional liquid (e.g., breast milk orneonate formula) being fed to the neonate. In particular, the heater ofthe heating system is placed in close proximity to the neonate along alength of a tube being used to feed the neonate. Since the heater is inclose proximity to the neonate on the tube, the temperature drop due toheat loss through the tube after the nutritional liquid is heated andtravels to the neonate is minimal. Moreover, any heat loss from thesyringe to the heater is inconsequential since the heater raises thetemperature of the nutritional liquid to the desired target temperatureimmediately before the nutritional liquid reaches the neonate.

More particularly, a heating system for heating neonate nutritionalliquid so that a temperature of the nutritional liquid is greater thanroom temperature when providing warmed nutritional liquid to the neonateduring feeding is disclosed. The heater system may comprise a heaterincluding a first heating portion having a first groove for receiving atube; a first handle fixed to the first heating portion; a secondportion disposable over the first groove; and a second handle fixed tothe second portion.

The first heating portion and handle may be pivotally traverseable tothe second portion and handle between open and closed positions. In theopen position, the neonate feeding tube may be inserted or removed fromthe first groove. In the closed position, the second portion covers thefirst groove and the first heating portion warms the neonate nutritionalliquid that flows through the tube.

The second portion may have a heating portion and a second groove forreceiving the tube. The first and second grooves may collectively have asnug fit around the tube for transferring heat through the neonatefeeding tube to the neonate nutritional liquid flowing through theneonate feeding tube. The first heating portion may comprise a firstheater and a first heat conductor. The first groove may be formed in thefirst heat conductor. The second heating portion comprises a secondheater and a second heat conductor. The second groove may be formed inthe second heat conductor.

The first and second grooves may be straight and have matchingsemi-circular cross sectional configurations.

The first and second portions may be pivotally biased to the closedposition. A spring may bias the first and second portions to the closedposition.

The heating system may further comprise a control module including arechargeable battery pack for providing electricity to the heater and ameans for controlling the heater. The control module may include areadout for providing a temperature of the heater. The control modulemay also include a battery strength indicator. The control module andthe heater may be in electrical communication with each other through awire. The control module may be integrated into a body of the heater.

Additionally, a system for providing warm nutritional liquid to aneonate is disclosed. The system may comprise a neonate feeding syringefillable with the nutritional liquid; a tube connected to the syringeand in fluid communication with a stomach of the neonate; a syringe pumpwherein the syringe is mountable to the syringe pump which forces thenutritional liquid from the syringe through the tube to the neonate; aheater mounted about the tube and positioned closer to the neonate thanthe syringe pump along a length of the tube wherein the heater transfersheat through the tube and to the nutritional liquid flowing through thetube to minimize heat loss from the nutritional liquid after thenutritional liquid exits the heater and flows toward the neonate so thatthe nutritional liquid is provided to the neonate above roomtemperature.

The tube may be an extension tube and the heater may be positionedimmediately adjacent to a distal end of the extension tube. The heatermay abut the distal end of the extension tube.

The system may further comprise a feeding tube in fluid communicationwith the extension tube and the heater further. The heater may comprisea first heating portion having a first groove for receiving theextension tube; a first handle fixed to the first heating portion; asecond portion disposable over the first groove; a second handle fixedto the second portion.

The first heating portion and handle may be pivotally traversable to thesecond portion and handle between open and closed positions. In the openposition, the feeding tube or extension tube may be inserted or removedfrom the first groove. In the closed position, the second portion coversthe first groove and the first heating portion warms the neonatenutritional liquid that flows through the extension tube or the neonatefeeding tube.

Additionally, a system for providing warm nutritional liquid to aneonate is disclosed. The system may comprise a gravity feeding syringefillable with the nutritional liquid; a tube connected to the syringeand in fluid communication with a stomach of the neonate; a stand forhanging the gravity feeding syringe above the neonate to flow thenutritional liquid from the syringe through the tube to the neonate; aheater mounted about the tube and positioned closer to the neonate thanthe syringe pump along a length of the tube. The heater transfers heatthrough the tube and to the nutritional liquid flowing through the tubeto provide warm nutritional liquid to the neonate to minimize heat lossfrom the nutritional liquid after the nutritional liquid exits theheater and flows toward the neonate so that the nutritional liquid isprovided to the neonate above room temperature.

The tube may be a feeding tube and the heater may be positionedimmediately adjacent to the neonate so that a temperature of thenutritional liquid is above room temperature when the nutritional liquidreaches the neonate.

Additionally, a method of feeding a neonate with warm nutritional liquidis disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of filling a neonatefeeding syringe with nutritional liquid; connecting a tube to theneonate feeding syringe; placing the tube in fluid communication with astomach of the neonate; placing a heater on the tube for heating thenutritional fluid flowing through the tube, the heater being positionedon the tube closer to the neonate than the neonate feeding syringe alonga length of the tube; flowing the nutritional liquid from the neonatefeeding syringe, through the tube and to the neonate; and heating thenutritional liquid flowing through the tube with the heater so that atemperature of the nutritional liquid is above room temperature when thenutritional liquid reaches the neonate to facilitate digestion of thewarm nutritional liquid by the neonate.

The flowing step may be accomplished with a syringe pump. The flowingstep may also comprise elevating the neonate feeding syringe above theneonate to gravity feed the neonate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the various embodimentsdisclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the followingdescription and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like partsthroughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a neonate being fed with a syringe pump oralternatively with a gravity syringe and a heating system disposed asclose to the neonate so that the neonate is fed with nutritional liquidabove room temperature and preferably at normal body temperature of aperson;

FIG. 2 illustrates the heating system having a heater and a controlmodule;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the heater shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the heater shown in FIGS. 1-3;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a second embodiment of the heating systemwith the control module integrated into the heater; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the second embodiment of the heating systemshown in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings, an in-line neonatal fluid tubing heater10, 10 a is shown. A syringe 12, 12 a is filled with a nutritionalliquid (e.g., breast milk or neonate formula). From the syringe 12, 12a, the nutritional liquid flows through extension tube 18 and feedingtube 14 or feeding tube 14 a. The heater 10 is mounted to the extensiontube 18 or the feeding tube 14 a to warm up the nutritional liquidflowing through the feeding tube 14, 14 a above room temperature andpreferably to about the body temperature of a person (i.e. between about95° F. and about 99° F.). Feeding warm nutritional liquid to the neonate16 facilitates digestion of the nutritional liquid and preserves theneonate's energy for healing and growth. The heater 10, 10 a may beplaced on the extension tube 18 or the tube 14 a as close to the neonate16 as possible to minimize a reduction in the temperature of thenutritional fluid as the nutritional liquid exits the heater 10, 10 a onits way to the neonate 16. As the nutritional liquid flows through theheater 10, the heater 10 increases the temperature of the nutritionalliquid to a temperature above room temperature and preferably to atemperature about the body temperature of the neonate 16.

As shown in FIG. 1, the neonate 16 may be fed nutritional liquid with asyringe 12 and syringe pump 20 or with a gravity syringe 12 a. Inrelation to the syringe pump 20, the heater 10 is shown as beingattached to the extension tube 18 instead of the feeding tube 14.However, it is also contemplated that the heater 10 may be mounted tothe feeding tube 14 as close as possible to the neonate 16 in a similarfashion as the heater 10 described in relation to the gravity feedingmethod.

A heating system 22 is shown in FIG. 2. The heating system 22 maycomprise the heater 10 and a control module 24. The heater 10 is shownin more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. Referring to FIG. 3, the heater 10 maybe traversed between the open and closed positions. The open position isshown in solid lines in FIG. 3. The closed position is shown in dashlines in FIG. 3. The first and second handles 26 a, b and first andsecond heating portions 28 a, b may be biased to the closed position asshown in dash lines in FIG. 3. The handles 26 a, b and heating portions28 a, b may be biased to the closed position by way of a torsion spring63 (see FIG. 4) fitted within hinge 30. From the closed position shownby the dash lines, a person may grip the first and second handles 26 a,b and apply opposing compressive forces 32 a, b to overcome the biasingforce and open the first and second heating portions 28 a, b. Thefeeding tube 14, 14 a or extension tube 18 may be fitted within theheating portions 28 a, b to heat nutritional liquid that flows throughthe tubes 14, 14 a, 18. When the tubes 14, 14 a, 18 are fitted withinthe first and second heating portions 28 a, b, the user may release thefirst and second handles 26 a, b to clamp the first and second heatingportions 28 a, b about the tube 14, 14 a, 18. Each of the heatingportions 28 a, b may have a straight elongated groove 34 a, b thatextends along the length 66 of the heating portions 28 a, b as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3. The heating portions 28 a, b may be sufficiently long sothat heat can be transferred into the nutritional liquid as thenutritional liquid flows through the tube 14, 14 a, 18 between anentrance 33 and exit 36 (see FIG. 2) of the heating portions 28 a, b.The heater 10 may also be in electrical communication with the controlmodule 24 through cable 35. The control module 24 is capable ofcontrolling the heating portions 28 a, b by way of heater controller 37.The heater 10 and the control module 24 may be powered by rechargeablebatteries 39. The rechargeable batteries 39 may be recharged by way of acharger connected to a battery recharge port 38. A readout 40 (e.g.,digital readout) provides the temperature of the heating portions 28 a,b. Battery strength/charging indicator 42 may also be provided on thecontrol module 24. The control module 24 and the heater 10 may be turnedon and off by way of an on/off switch 44.

During use, the operator squeezes the handles 26 a, b together totraverse the heater 10 to the open position as shown in FIG. 3. With theheater 10 in the open position, the operator inserts the tube 14, 14 a,18 into the first and second grooves 34 a, b. In particular, the tube14, 14 a, 18 is inserted into one of the grooves 34 a, 34 b. Once thetube 14, 14 a, 18 is placed in the groove 34 a or 34 b, the operatorreleases the first and second handles 26 a, b to traverse the heaterportions 28 a, b to the closed position. In the closed position, thetube 14, 14 a, 18 is nested within the grooves 34 a, b. Preferably, theheater portions 28 a, b contact and press against tube 14, 14 a and 18to provide as much heat to the nutritional liquid flowing through thetube 14, 14 a, 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, once the tube 14, 14 a, 18 is placed in theheater 10, the operator turns on the control module 24 by togglingswitch 44 to the on position. The user adjusts the temperature at whichthe heater 10 will heat the nutritional liquid by manipulating buttonsof the heater controller 37. The operator either increases or decreasesthe maximum temperature of the heater 10. The maximum temperature isshown on the readout 40. The heater 10 and the control module 24 have afeedback loop which allows the control module 24 to control the maximumtemperature of the heater 10. Additional toggle buttons and/or readouts40 may be mounted to the control module 24 so that the readouts 40 canalso provide the current temperature of the heater 10. Additionaltemperature sensors may be mounted to the heater 10, 10 a to sense atemperature of the nutritional fluid flowing through the tube 14, 14 a,18. The control module 24 and the heater 10 are portable in that thecontrol module 24 and the heater 10 may be powered by a battery pack 39.The remaining power in the battery pack 39 may be indicated by indicator42. Also, the battery pack 39 may be recharged by connecting the batterypack 39 to a battery charger by way of recharge port 38.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an exploded view of the heater 10 is shown. Thefirst and second heating portions 28 a, b may have first and secondthermistor thermocouples 46 a, b. The first and second heating portions28 a, b may additionally have first and second heaters 48 a, b. Thefirst and second thermocouples 46 a, b and heaters 48 a, b may be inelectrical communication with the control module 24. When the operatorturns on the control module 24, the control module 24 may send power tothe heaters 48 a, b to increase the temperature of the heating portions50 a, b. The thermocouples 46 a, b take the reading of the temperatureof the heating portions 50 a, b and send that information to the controlmodule 24. The temperature of the heating portions 50 a, b may bedisplayed on the readout 40. If the thermocouple 46 a, b indicates thatthe heating portions 50 a, b have reached the maximum temperature set bythe operator, then the control module 24 modulates the power supplied tothe heaters 48 a, b so that the temperature of the heating portions 50a, b is maintained at about the maximum temperature set by the operator.

Optionally, a temperature sensor 68 may be located adjacent the exit 36of the heater 10, 10 a. The sensor 68 may sense a temperature of thenutritional fluid flowing through the tube 14, 14 a, 18 as thenutritional fluid flows out of the heater 10, 10 a. The temperaturesensor 68 may send a signal to the control module 24 which may beprogrammed to modulate power to the heater 10, 10 a based on the sensedtemperature of the nutritional liquid instead of the sensed temperatureof the heating element 50 a, b.

First and second insulators 52 a, b may be disposed between thethermocouples 46 a, b and the heating portions 50 a, b. The heatingportions 50 a, b may be a Kapton (i.e., polyimide) heater. The heatingportions 50 a, b may have a curved semi-cylindrical configuration asshown in FIG. 4. Heat sinks 54 a, b may be disposed on the inside of theheating portions 50 a, b. The heat sinks 54 a, b may define the straightgrooves 34 a, b of the first and second heating portions 28 a, b. Thestraight grooves 34 a, b may have a semi-circular cross sectionalconfiguration so as to receive the tube 14, 14 a and 18 which preferablyhas a cylindrical cross section. The back side 56 a, b may have a curvedconfiguration and receive the heating portions 50 a, b. The heatingportions 50 a, b may be mounted to the back sides 56 a, b of the heatingportions 50 a, b through methods known in the art or developed in thefuture.

The heaters 48 a, b, the heat sinks 54 a, b, the insulation 52 a, b andthe thermocouples 46 a, b may all be mounted within respective outercases 58 a, b. The outer cases 58 a, b may have first and second hingeelements 60 a, b. The hinge elements 60 a, b may be nested together andheld together by pin 62. A torsion spring 63 may be mounted to the hingeelements 60 a, b to bias the heating portions 28 a, b to the closedposition. The outer cases 58 a, b may additionally have support members64 a, b that are received into the first and second handles 26 a, b formounting the outer cases 50 a, b to the handles 26 a, b.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, a second embodiment of the heatingsystem 22 a is shown. The heating system 22 a has a heater 10 a and acontrol module 24 a which are integrated to each other. As shown in FIG.6, the control module 24 a may be integrated into one or both of theheating portions 28 a, b. The control module 24 a may have the readout40, indicator 42 and on/off switch 44 integrated into the first heatingportion 28 a. Battery pack 39 may be integrated into the second heatingportion 28 b. The electronics for the readout 40, indicator 42 and theon/off switch 44 may be in electrical communication with the batterypack 39. Moreover, the battery pack 39 may be in electricalcommunication with the heater 48 a, b and the thermocouple 46 a, bmounted within the outer cases 58 a, b of the first and second heatingportions 28 a, b. The heating system 22 a may operate in substantiallythe same manner as that described in relation to heating system 22except that the control module 24 is integrated into the heater 10 a.

The heater 10, 10 a discussed herein may be placed as close to theneonate 16 as possible. This does not mean that the heater 10, 10 a isplaced on the tube 14, 14, 18 away from the neonate and the tube 14, 14a, 18 is bent so that the heater 10, 10 a is located closely adjacent tothe heater 10, 10 a. Instead, this means that the distance that thenutritional liquid fluid flows from the heater 10, 10 a to the neonate16 through the tube 14, 14 a, 18 is minimized by placing the heater 10,10 a as close to the neonate along a length of the tube 14, 14 a, 18.The extension tube 18, feeding tube 14, 14 a have a linear length. Theheater 10, 10 a may be placed on the tube 14, 14 a, 18 at any positionalong the length of the tube 14, 14 a, 18. However, as discussed hereinit is advantageous that the heater 10, 10 a be placed near the neonate16 along the length of the tube 14, 14 a, 18. By placing the heater 10,10 a closer to the neonate 16 the distance that the nutritional liquidtravels to reach the neonate 16 after the nutritional liquid exits theheater 10, 10 a is minimized so that heat loss through the tube isnegligible. For example, after the nutritional liquid exits the heater10, 10 a the heat in the nutritional liquid begins to be transferred tothe environment thereby cooling the nutritional liquid. By the time thenutritional liquid reaches the neonate 16, the nutritional liquid has alower temperature than when the nutritional liquid exited the heater 10,10 a. Nonetheless, the nutritional liquid is above room temperature andis preferably about equal to the body temperature of. If the temperaturedrop from the heater 10, 10 a to the neonate 16 is significant, it iscontemplated that the heater 10, 10 a may raise the temperature of thenutritional liquid to a temperature above the body temperature of ahuman. In this manner, as the nutritional liquid flows from the heater10, 10 a towards the neonate 16, the temperature of the nutritionalliquid cools down to about the body temperature of a person.

The heater 10, 10 a may be sufficiently long so that the nutritionalliquid can be heated to the target temperature of the neonate. Theheater 10, 10 a has a particular length 66, 66 a as shown in FIGS. 2 and5. The nutritional liquid flows into the heater 10, 10 a from theentrance 33,33 a and leaves out of exit 36, 36 a. However, the actualheating portions have a length 68 (see FIG. 4) which is shorter than thelength 66 of the heater 10, 10 a. The heater 10, 10 a is mounted to aheat conductor 54 a, b. The heat conductors 54 a, b heat up thenutritional liquid flowing through the tube 14, 14 a, 18. A length 70 ofthe heat conductor 54 a, b defines a heating region which heats up thenutritional liquid flowing through the tube 14, 14 a, 18. The heatingregion may be sufficiently long to gradually raise the temperature ofthe nutritional liquid. If the length 70 of the heating region is tooshort, then the temperature of the nutritional liquid must be raised ata rapid rate which may require the heating portions 50 a, b to be set ata high temperature. In this case, the nutritional liquid may be exposedto excessively high temperatures that may destroy immunologicalproperties of the nutritional liquid. Accordingly, the length 70 of theheating region is sufficiently long so that the maximum temperature ofthe heating portions 50 a, b may be reduced to a temperature which issafe for the nutritional liquid and can still raise the temperature ofthe nutritional liquid to the target temperature (e.g., bodytemperature, temperature above body temperature) at a reasonable rate.

As discussed herein the grooves 34 a, b of the heating portions 28 a, bthat receive the tube 14, 14 a, 18 may be straight. However, othershapes are also contemplated. By way of example, other shapes includebut is not limited to Z shaped, L shaped, U shaped.

The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation.Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devisevariations that are within the scope and spirit of the inventiondisclosed herein, including various ways of flow nutritional fluidthrough the tube 14, 14 a, 18. Further, the various features of theembodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varyingcombinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to thespecific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims isnot to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A heating system for heating neonate nutritionalliquid so that a temperature of the nutritional liquid is greater thanroom temperature when providing warmed nutritional liquid to the neonateduring feeding, the heater system comprising: a heater including: afirst heating portion having a first groove for receiving a tube; afirst handle fixed to the first heating portion; a second portiondisposable over the first groove; a second handle fixed to the secondportion; wherein the first heating portion and handle are pivotallytraverseable to the second portion and handle between open and closedpositions, in the open position, the neonate feeding tube may beinserted or removed from the first groove, in the closed position, thesecond portion covers the first groove and the first heating portionwarms the neonate nutritional liquid that flows through the tube.
 2. Theheating system of claim 1 wherein the second portion has a heatingportion and a second groove for receiving the tube.
 3. The heatingsystem of claim 2 wherein the first and second grooves collectively havea snug fit around the tube for transferring heat through the neonatefeeding tube to the neonate nutritional liquid flowing through theneonate feeding tube.
 4. The heating system of claim 2 wherein the firstheating portion comprises a first heater and a first heat conductor, thefirst groove formed in the first heat conductor, the second heatingportion comprises a second heater and a second heat conductor, thesecond groove formed in the second heat conductor.
 5. The heating systemof claim 2 wherein the first and second grooves are straight and havematching semi-circular cross sectional configurations.
 6. The heatingsystem of claim 1 wherein the first and second portions are pivotallybiased to the closed position.
 7. The heating system of claim 6 whereina spring biases the first and second portions to the closed position. 8.heating system of claim 1 further comprising a control module including:a rechargeable battery pack for providing electricity to the heater; ameans for controlling the heater.
 9. The heating system of claim 8wherein the control module further includes a readout for providing atemperature of the heater.
 10. The heating system of claim 8 wherein thecontrol module further includes a battery strength indicator.
 11. Theheating system of claim 8 wherein the control module and the heater arein electrical communication with each other through a wire.
 12. Theheating system of claim 8 wherein the control module is integrated intoa body of the heater.
 13. A system for providing warm nutritional liquidto a neonate, the system comprising: a neonate feeding syringe fillablewith the nutritional liquid; a tube connected to the syringe and influid communication with a stomach of the neonate; a syringe pumpwherein the syringe is mountable to the syringe pump which forces thenutritional liquid from the syringe through the tube to the neonate; aheater mounted about the tube and positioned closer to the neonate thanthe syringe pump along a length of the tube, the heater transfers heatthrough the tube and to the nutritional liquid flowing through the tubeto minimize heat loss from the nutritional liquid after the nutritionalliquid exits the heater and flows toward the neonate so that thenutritional liquid is provided to the neonate above room temperature.14. The system of claim 13 wherein the tube is an extension tube and theheater is positioned immediately adjacent to a distal end of theextension tube.
 15. The system of claim 14 wherein the heater abuts thedistal end of the extension tube.
 16. The system of claim 15 furthercomprising a feeding tube in fluid communication with the extension tubeand the heater further comprises: a first heating portion having a firstgroove for receiving the extension tube; a first handle fixed to thefirst heating portion; a second portion disposable over the firstgroove; a second handle fixed to the second portion; wherein the firstheating portion and handle are pivotally traversable to the secondportion and handle between open and closed positions, in the openposition, the feeding tube or extension tube may be inserted or removedfrom the first groove, in the closed position, the second portion coversthe first groove and the first heating portion warms the neonatenutritional liquid that flows through the extension tube or the neonatefeeding tube.
 17. A system for providing warm nutritional liquid to aneonate, the system comprising: a gravity feeding syringe fillable withthe nutritional liquid; a tube connected to the syringe and in fluidcommunication with a stomach of the neonate; a stand for hanging thegravity feeding syringe above the neonate to flow the nutritional liquidfrom the syringe through the tube to the neonate; a heater mounted aboutthe tube and positioned closer to the neonate than the syringe pumpalong a length of the tube, the heater transfers heat through the tubeand to the nutritional liquid flowing through the tube to provide warmnutritional liquid to the neonate to minimize heat loss from thenutritional liquid after the nutritional liquid exits the heater andflows toward the neonate so that the nutritional liquid is provided tothe neonate above room temperature.
 18. The system of claim 17 whereinthe tube is a feeding tube and the heater is positioned immediatelyadjacent to the neonate so that a temperature of the nutritional liquidis above room temperature when the nutritional liquid reaches theneonate.
 19. A method of feeding a neonate with warm nutritional liquid,the method comprising the steps of: filling a neonate feeding syringewith nutritional liquid; connecting a tube to the neonate feedingsyringe; placing the tube in fluid communication with a stomach of theneonate; placing a heater on the tube for heating the nutritional fluidflowing through the tube, the heater being positioned on the tube closerto the neonate than the neonate feeding syringe along a length of thetube; flowing the nutritional liquid from the neonate feeding syringe,through the tube and to the neonate; heating the nutritional liquidflowing through the tube with the heater so that a temperature of thenutritional liquid is above room temperature when the nutritional liquidreaches the neonate to facilitate digestion of the warm nutritionalliquid by the neonate.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the flowingstep is accomplished with a syringe pump.
 21. The method of claim 19wherein the flowing step comprising elevating the neonate feedingsyringe above the neonate to gravity feed the neonate.